Noted Merton scholar to give June 28 presentation on contemplation & the environment

Jun 13, 2014

Source: SubmittedKathleen Deignan

Prominent Thomas Merton scholar and environmental leader Sister Kathleen Deignan CND, PhD, will be speaking from 4 to 6 p.m., Saturday, June 28, at Epworth United Methodist Church In Rehoboth Beach. The presentation is open to everyone.

Coming in from New York for the occasion, Deignan is known nationally as an exciting and creative speaker, sometimes even singing. Her talk is titled “Love for the Paradise Mystery | Thomas Merton, Contemplative Ecologist.”

The phrase “Love for the Paradise Mystery” is taken from a Merton essay about writer William Faulkner. It refers to the planet as a celebration of God’s creation as well as a look at its destiny. Deignan will talk about how smart environmental action, fueled by some Merton-style contemplation and spiritual energy, can lead to helping this planet, this paradise, in meaningful, practical ways.

Deignan is a board member of GreenFaith, an interfaith environmental leadership organization, and a Convener of the Thomas Berry Forum for Ecological Dialogue at Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y.

Deignan is the creator of "A Book of Hours" by Thomas Merton and of "When the Trees Say Nothing: Writings on Nature" by Thomas Merton. Past president of the International Thomas Merton Society, she chairs the Merton 100: Living the Legacy, a celebration of Merton’s 100th birthday in 2015.

This exciting presentation is the fourth one sponsored by the growing and popular Thomas Merton Interfaith Chapter of Southern Delaware. The chapter cosponsored the recent conversation organized by Delaware Interfaith Power & Light and the St. Peter’s Seekers on a related theme: “Climate Change: We’re In This Together - Our Moral Responsibility & What We Can Do.”